Teen drug trafficker 'had nearly 50 contacts on phone'

A TEENAGED drug trafficker, whose father died while he was in custody, has been sentenced to probation and a suspended jail sentence.

The boy, who can't be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to selling marijuana and methylamphetamine over six weeks from July last year, when he was just 16.

In the Supreme Court in Mackay, Crown prosecutor Nigel Rees said that on August 31 police searched him and found marijuana, meth and $3885 in cash. His phone was seized.

The teenager was placed on probation by the Magistrates Court the following month, but after police analysed his phone they charged him with trafficking.

Mr Rees said police found 346 drug-related text messages on the boy's phone, linked to 49 different phone numbers. He described the boy as a "prolific street level dealer" who had an "entrepreneurial streak".

He said the boy had told police he'd only owned the phone for two weeks, but a text sent to the boy's mother on July 12 that said 'Hey mum, it's (name)' identified he'd had it previously.

Mr Rees said the boy offered three versions to explain why he had the money, including that he'd received it from selling a motorbike and got it from saving up his Centrelink payments.

Defence barrister Scott McLennan said at the time of offending the boy had been using marijuana daily and methylamphetamine regularly.

Since then he had become drug-free, had turned things around for himself and was working. He hoped to work in construction.

While he was in custody, the boy's father had fallen ill and died.

Justice James Henry said he would sentence the boy on the basis that the money was obtained through drug trafficking.

He said it was "rare" for a juvenile to traffic drugs.

The judge said the boy had given false explanations to police and had thought he was "10 foot tall and bullet proof".

For trafficking, he was sentenced to three months' jail, suspended immediately. For possessing the phone used for trafficking, he was given a probation order. No conviction was recorded.